Hard to figure exactly when this game got away today. Penn State could have won this, but special teams and quarterback play were killers.

McGloin could have had eight interceptions, but ended up with five. Two of them set up very short Florida TD drives. The final dagger, of course, was the pick and long return for a TD by Ahmad Black.

Special teams cost Penn State seven points on the blocked field goal and return for the TD. A poor punt set up a short field that resulted in a Gator field goal. And Penn State gave up a long kickoff return setting up Florida in Lion territory for another field goal.

So, if you're counting -- and I am -- McGloin's careless play led to 21 Gator points and special teams woes led to 13 Gator points. That totals 34 points, way too many to overcome. (And you know, JoePa over the years has said one key is to protect the ball.)

OBSERVATIONS

-- If Rob Bolden isn't the guy at QB, that's OK. But McGloin should not have any guarantees next fall. And I am most eager to see Paul Jones join the fray once again.

-- JoePa needs to put McGloin on a two-pick maximum next fall.

-- I swear I saw McGloin throw an interception even when Florida had the ball.

-- Justin Brown had another costly drop with 4:31 to go. Would have given the Lions first down inside the Gator 30. Couldn't tell if the Florida D-back distracted Brown or tipped the pass, but that was the third drop of the game for Brown. Expected more from him.

-- Penn State defensive end Pete Massaro had a bad offsides in fourth quarter when Florida had third and a long 5. That penalty essentially extended the drive.

-- Lion D-tackle Devon Still had an excellent game. A junior, he'll be counted on to plug the middle next year.

-- Safety Malcolm Willis was deked on Florida's 50-yard-plus run on the first play from scrimmage in the second half, which led to a Gator field goal.

-- Possible game-turning bad call department: Willis was flagged for pass interference inside the Lion two on third and long in the fourth quarter when Penn State still had the lead. Couldn't tell if that was a bad call or not. Looked like a good hit to me but it was close, either way. No penalty would have meant a Florida field goal try and would have kept Penn State ahead. (Willis later in the game had a very nice pass break-up in his own end zone.)

-- Lion cornerback D'Anton Lynn had a superb game with a first-half interception and fumble recovery. He tackled well and broke up at least one pass. Counterpart Stephon Morris on the other side also had a strong game. (At one point I thought Lynn might jump to the NFL, but the NFL labor contract uncertainty might keep Lynn -- and other underclassmen -- on campus.)

-- Another way that special teams cost Penn State in second half: After Florida forged ahead by three points, a Penn State penalty on the kickoff return pinned the Lions inside their own 10.

-- To be fair: Heads-up play by special-teamer Mike Yancich on Florida's fake punt was momentum-changing play in the third quarter. And Devon Smith had a decent kickoff return midway through the fourth quarter.

-- Stephfon Green did not dress for the game, as he was seen in street clothes along the sideline.

-- Congrats to Urban Meyer. But if this is his last game as a coach, then I'm the next president of Penn State.

-- Penn State didn't really have any close games this year. Lions rallied to win last year's Capital One Bowl on a field goal. But generally, they just don't rally to win games in the final minutes, and we saw that today.

-- And, finally, both teams had turnover issues in the first half, which ended with the Lions up by three points in a game very winnable for Penn State. Florida corrected its turnover issues, while Penn State did not. Guess who won?

Current Comments

Hey Greasy Joe with the most vaniila uni's in college football, nice to see ya wearing a Ralph Lauren-Polo sweater on the sideline???
Did you get a stipend from a new clothing line for senior's from that group?
You looked real coherent from the sideline shots after the game action!
Tell those blue chiiper's parents you'll be steering the ship till yer 88!
Fight on State!!!!!!!!!!

Posted By: odious | Jan 1, 2011 6:56:01 PM

In 1 Jan.1st article you note an injury to Stephon Green . In another article ( same day ) you claim Green did not dress for the game . Is it any wonder we question your ability ! With this type of " editor " it's easy to see how the Morning Call continues it's decline .

Posted By: CHEK | Jan 3, 2011 12:55:53 PM

Hello CHEK
You probably are not aware, but two people write the blog, Mark Wogenrich as well as me. So, at the time I typed my comment about Green not dressing for the game, I was unaware that Green had played at first and was injured. I was not at the game, and I discovered about Green's injury when Mark later wrote his blog. So, I could have revised my earlier blog but those were my thoughts at the time, at game's end.